You have to be there

You have to be there

When I first met my animal communication teacher, Danielle MacKinnon, I learned that she made bi-yearly trips to Costa Rica where she conducts workshops that allow you to work intuitively with horses. Several months later, a few people who were in my class went on one of these retreats. They came back raving, expounding on what a remarkable, amazing, fascinating experience they had had. It made me feel left out that I hadn’t been able to join them. It took me another year before I could go and experience for myself just what they were talking about. No words, nothing they conveyed, did the trip justice. It wasn’t until I did the workshop that the transformation they attempted to describe occurred. It truly was an eye opening adventure that had to be experienced to be believed.

I had never been on a horse before. This seven day excursion was way more than that. Set in the rainforest, with a stunning volcano in the background, merely being there put me in a state of surreal shock. The energy was so immediately powerful and comforting, I couldn’t wait to get started on the program. Throughout the week many things occurred (way too many to name in a short blog). I was unprepared for the level of catharsis and deep work that would take place. I’m a person who loves going deep to understand who I am and what motivates my pain and suffering. The retreat was led by Danielle, along with two of the most fabulous, wise, nurturing women I have come across. These women, along with the horses, lead Eponicity.

I was part of a group of eight and bonded deeply and quickly with many. There was no pretension or judgment during this week of transformation. And to learn from horses? To be able to recognize the power inside myself that I, until this time, was holding back, and come to know the bigger picture of understanding why my existence is the way it is, is something no amount of sitting in a therapist’s office could ever offer me.

One of the coolest things that goes on there is that the horse you work with for the week chooses you. You sit in a chair blindfolded while horses are led in to pick. My heart was pounding in anticipation and I was so moved that I was crying into my bandana. At some point I felt a surge of calm enter me instantly, and I believe at that moment is when the soul of my horse communicated with my soul. I knew then that everything is as it should be.

I am going to return to this wonderful magical place in September. I, along with the two wonderful women I spoke of earlier, am leading a workshop, The Power of You, from September 4-11. Come with me! You can’t know what it is until you experience it yourself.